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How to Use a Tennis Ball to Relieve Back Pain

Posted on: 26Oct2017

Back pain is a common ailment that will affect 8 out of 10 adults at some point in their lives. Though back pain is common, there are multiple ways to reduce muscle tension and provide relief for back pain or sciatica. One of the easiest, most cost-effective, and at-home methods is tennis ball therapy.

Tennis Ball Therapy

When using a tennis ball, you are incorporating the principles of massage, acupressure, and reflexology which help to relieve sore muscles in a DIY approach. While lying or sitting on a ball and allowing gravity to exert pressure, the tennis ball presses and treats trigger points in the piriformis muscle. This reduces the muscle tension and improves mobility and blood circulation. The pain you may feel from the tennis ball is equivalent to the pain you would feel if a masseuse was working on a tight knot.

Using more than one tennis ball across your back will spread the pressure and work more areas at once with less pain. Taping two tennis balls together can create a groove where the spine sits and works muscles on each side of the spine. Rolling the ball across these areas for a short time will relax the knot. Focusing on one area, such as the lower back, is fine. But working several areas (middle and upper back too) and releasing pressure will provide the best results.

Limitations of Tennis Ball Therapy

Although effective, this type of therapy does have limitations. If sciatic pain is present, it’s important to visit your doctor to determine the true cause of your symptoms. Relying on a tennis ball is not as effective if there is something more serious going on.

Sciatic pain is normally a result of a spinal condition, such as a herniated disc or narrowing of the spinal canal. These conditions cause nerve pain and targeting the piriformis muscle is just one step for relief. The root of the problem is in the spinal cord, so consulting a doctor is important as tennis ball therapy is just one component to address back pain. Physical therapy, medication, exercise, or surgery may be alternative options based on your situation.

The professional staff at Minnesota Spine Institute is here to provide first-class treatment and extraordinary care for back and neck issues.They use the latest advancements in technology and leading treatment options to give their patients the best outcome of a fast recovery and minimal pain. Discover your options with a free consultation today.

" AMAZING!! I just had surgery the day before yesterday 7/9/18, & this surgeon Dr. Hanson & his team should be voted once again best surgeon in the U.S. When I thought I was at a dead end with this very bad spine of mine, no doctor cared in the least about how my back felt, the pain that I was taking in for 8 years of my life living on pain meds 6x a day. No Doctor here in Des Moines would even take me in for a appt. until I took off 25 to 30 lbs. Until 1 day I asked my hubbies hip Dr. to refer me to someone very quickly or I will end up in a wheelchair, Within1 week he referred me to Dr. Hanson at Minnesota Spine Institute, & thats where the beginning of my new journey to fix me started. I drove 4 hrs. to Minnesota & walked into his office in defensive mode scared to death that he would tell me I had to loose weight before he would see me like all the rest of the Dr.s, & immediately he picked my face up & told me to look at his face, his 1st response to my fear of rejection self was: "I want you to look at me, " This is not about what this doctor told you or that Dr. told you or your husband or family member told you, this is going to be about me & you only. I will treat you & I will fix you. And with that he did just that. We did some more testing & had my surgery 2 days ago & was up 1 hr. after walking down the hallways through my hotel & 2 days later have no pain only where incision was. He removed nerves from 3 Lumbars. This man is truly my miracle that I needed that will now change my life forever. Thank you Dr. Hanson & your team Jackie Frid & Melina. I hope you are proud as I am of you!!

I sustained a back injury while on the job. I met with Dr.Hanson and immediately knew that he understood my pain and frustrations. He’s a skilled surgeon who really cares. I had a micro discotomy in January 2018 and unfortunately, 3 weeks later, I had a large re-herniation. Dr. Hanson came to the hospital on a Saturday and preformed the emergency surgery. I appreciate the fact that Dr. Hanson personally calls and Text his patients to see how things are going.. I’m becoming the person and mother that I was before my injury. I recently got back on my kayak and it felt so good. To the staff at Minnesota spine institute and Dr.Hanson.. I thank you , my family thanks you!
Jessica Schmitz Page

In 2010, at 39 years old, I had two ruptured discs. The pain was indescribable. My local surgeon (Western WI area) had given me only 2 options; repair the discs or fuse those 2 levels. He gave me no other real guidance other than one was easier to recover from and neither were guaranteed success. I sat and cried by myself, ultimately choosing the 2-level spinal fusion in hopes that this would eliminate all of the horrible pain and I would finally be able to move forward.
While I recovered nicely and fairly quickly, a few years later I found myself with more and more pain, and despite my best efforts, it just continued to get worse... as in, I had very little quality of life anymore due to pain. By 2017 my friends and family were gently pushing me to seek help outside of our local area.
I found Dr. Hanson through a friend of mine whose husband had used MSI to have 2 cervical discs replaced, and he was doing quite well. After I made contact with the Minnesota Spinal Institute, Dr. Hanson called me directly to talk about my symptoms and what was going on. Never would I have expected the surgeon to call me directly, and by the end of that conversation I KNEW that I had FINALLY found someone who would help figure out where this pain was coming from. To directly quote him, "we just need to figure out where your pain generators are and fix them." I cried with relief when I got off that call! I had hope for the first time in YEARS. It was determined that my #1 pain generator was likely the hardware in my back (6 screws, 2 rods) and Dr. Hanson suggested removing all of it. I believe my body had been fighting that titanium for years, and I am now 10 weeks post-surgery and getting better slowly but surely.
Dr. Hanson has been very accessible both before and after surgery, and the word GRATEFUL does not begin to cover how I feel about MSI. I also need to mention that when my insurance provided denied my request for out-of-network service for MSI (and I was devastated), Dr. Hanson and his assistant, Jackie, worked above and beyond to secure me the very best self-pay rates for my surgery. Just like that, I was moving forward and had surgery 2 weeks later.
I've learned a lot of lessons through all of this: there ARE doctors and health care providers out there who listen; be your own advocate; ask for help; think outside the box of from the big medical institutions. And to Jackie... you probably have no idea who much of a life line you were for me in those weeks, but I thank you (and Dr. Hanson) from the bottom of my heart.

I had a micro-discectomy of L4-5 and haven’t felt this good in 2.5 years! I would give this place 1000 stars if it was a option!! Dr Hanson and Staff are truly Head and shoulders above the rest!! A+! Thank you again Jason!!

My son has been a patient of Dr. Hanson since 2016. Dr. Hanson is amazing. After having his back surgery he has finally been able to get some pain relief. Jackie is also wonderful to work with. I would recommend him to anyone struggle with back issues.

I suffered for over 4 months with lower back pain, it hurt to sit down, pain in my left leg. I seen a Chiropractor for months with no relief. I was being told by my GP and my Oncologist that my back pain was just "arthritis" or a side effect from my chemo,...Well guess what it wasn't!!
I reached out to Dr. Hanson @ MN Spine and thank god I did. Dr. Hanson is so Professional, Caring, Dr. Hanson and his team gave me awesome patient care. Dr. Hanson showed me my MRI showed me exactly where my pain was coming from and gave me several options of treatment. We discussed all options in detail, I choose to do L4/L5 Endoscopic Surgery. I had my surgery yesterday, today I feel good, just a little stiff, but I have NO PAIN!! Also Dr. Hanson gives you his own personal cell phone # he calls you personally to follow up with you ...what Dr. does that, No Dr. I'v ever had.
Gotta give a extra "Thank You" to his Anesthesia staff they really went above and beyond for me.

10 months of terrible pain solved in a single day. I'm a 24 year old who should not be dealing with spine issues! I did everything by the books, was given medicine, got an injection, did physical therapy, everything nothing helped the agony in my lower back and leg. I could barely walk, and spent tons of money taking cabs because I couldn't sit on the bus to get to work for too long. And sleep was impossible.
I had a herniated disc pressed into my sciatic nerve and surgery was the only thing left to consider. Dr. Hanson is a brilliant mind who wasted no time in telling us what he thought was going on in that my disc was contained and needed help being removed to put pressure off of the nerve. he explained the procedure and took time to answer any questions me or my mother had.
Surgery was a breeze. It's hard for me to even believe it happened because it was such a walk in the park! I'm up and walking around normally, I was even the night of the procedure! Dr. Hanson has truly given me my life back and I couldn't be more thankful. Not to mention he's so personable with his clients, he even shared his phone number so we could talk about any questions or concerns I have!
Thank you Dr. Hanson! :) I'm finally living my own life again!!

I am 61 years old, and for 5 years, dealt with low back pain and impingement of nerves down my right leg, and through prior consults, non invasive procedures could not fix the problem. I reviewed board certified orthopedic spine surgeons and chose Dr. Dan Hanson. He was compassionate, listened to my goals, and analyzed my back problem . He has impeccable skills in spacial relations (3D overview of my spine issues), and was the only Physician that came up with a way to fuse L3-L4 and decompress the nerve impingment to my right leg with incisions only in the back. The other two consults said I would not only need back surgery, but they would also have to open my abdomen to repair the problems. It has been six months post-op now, and I have no pain!!! I am out gardening and biking everyday. I just have to remember to do some core strength exercises Dr. Hanson gave to me, so I do not put as much strain on my back doing the things I love. Thank you, Dr. Hanson, and to all of your team!

After months (nearly a year) of dealing with my local (Western Wisconsin) medical facilities it was determined I had (2) badly worn discs. The only offer I could get from a local surgeon was 2 level fusion.
At 45 years old and in good health, I didn't believe fusion was the best option for my situation.
I managed to track down Dr. Hanson at Minnesota Spine Institute via the recommendation of my chiropractor. I met with Dr. Hanson and he agreed that fusion wasn't the best option for me.
2 weeks later Dr. Hanson installed (2) Mobi-C artificial discs. The follow up and personal contact I received from MSI was second to none. They checked on me regularly and made sure I was doing well. Fortunately the surgery went so well all I ever had to report was "Doing great, just need a little more time to heal".
I am now 1 month post op and feeling better today than I have in a LONG time.
If you are frustrated with your medical care and want a solution, go see Dr. Hanson. He is most interested in fixing your issues not billing your insurance company for care you don't need and delays that don't fix your issue!